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The E-Tech Africa Expo 2014 roars into life

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THE Annual E-Tech Africa Expo 2014 event kicked off two days ago with scores of exhibitors and guests thronging the traditional venue, the HICC.

THE Annual E-Tech Africa Expo 2014 event kicked off two days ago with scores of exhibitors and guests thronging the traditional venue, the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) as business and customers get an opportunity to interact face to face.

TechnoMag

The four-day expo, an event being spearheaded by the government through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal And Courier (ICTPS), will see its official opening expected today by Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

This year’s expo is being held under the theme Promoting Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth through ICTs.

In a statement, Information Communication Technology, Postal And Courier minister Webster Shamu said: “This theme, ladies and gentlemen, resonates well with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) which treats ICT as one of the pillars for the growth of the economy.

“It is my fervent belief that the Expo will provide a platform for African countries to showcase their ICT brands, projects, and explore trade and investment opportunities.

“This is a unique opportunity for the government, the private sector and ICT players to come together to share experiences, achievements and developmental ideas.”

Overwhelmed by the new government-in-making last year, Information Communication Technology, Postal And Courier ministry could not  run their annual event which they usually hold around September and last year they announced its postponement to 2014.

The Information Communication Technology, Postal And Courier ministry has been hosting the E-Tech Africa Expo 2014 annual event from March 11 to 14 .

They have mapped eight main focus areas to be explored at this expo, namely: (1) software development and products manufacturing, (2) ICT strategies, audits and infrastructure development, (3) research into new technologies , (4) cyber security, (5) cloud computing , (6) ICT resource optimisation through the accelerator programmes, (7) e-learning and (8) payment systems.

A total of 35 local ICT players have pitched up for this year’s expo, they vary from local Internet acces providers, Internet service providers, device manufactures and resellers, customer related management support, and providers of technological training. Unlike last year, this year’s exhibition did not manage to attract any international players compared to last year where South Africa, Mauritius and China managed to fully participate during the exhibition.

An inside source revealed that this year’s expo was organised in a short time hence there was not much publicity for build up and time to attract the international players as it was actually publicly  announced and held in less than three weeks.

A sign of its popularity among the stakeholders. A total of 40 exhibitors showcased their wares last year.

E-Tech Africa was initially launched in October 2012 and has proved to grow from strength in its short stint as business, academia and the customers are given an open space to converge and exchange value. Thumbs up to the ministry for making sure that such events are still made possible even against all odds as they build and impact  the development ICTs in Zimbabwe, creating a playing field for all participators.

TechnoMag is Zimbabwe’s Premier Technology Magazine, more on www.technomag.co.zw or join us on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/technomagzw Email articles: technomag.co.zw tweet @TechnoMagZw